The rockpool prawn, commonly referring to species such as *Palaemon elegans* and related members of the Palaemonidae family, is a small, translucent crustacean found in shallow coastal waters and rocky tide pools across Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. These prawns are highly valued for their delicate flavor and are harvested both for local consumption and as bait in recreational fishing. The top countries involved in rockpool prawn fishing include the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Portugal, where traditional small-scale fisheries use hand nets and traps to collect them, often supporting local economies and coastal communities. While the global commercial industry for rockpool prawns is modest compared to larger prawn species, sustainable harvesting practices are essential, as these prawns play a vital ecological role in intertidal zones.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.